Yesterday, though I didn't have the time to update, I did have the chance to find a new website that I had not yet come across that offered a HUGE amount of information. Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs, published by the Icarus Project and Freedom Center. This is an online PDF and can be printed out as well. There were a few things that really stood out for me that I'd like to share, one being the difference between withdrawal symptoms and Discontinuation symptoms. Some may chaulk up the difference to semantics, but I think it's important that people do in fact understand the difference in the meaning however slight it may be. Withdrawing from something is caused by your body craving a substance that it has become used to having and needing it to function properly. Discontinuation symptoms are caused by the absence of a substance that has altered the body in a type of way that causes it to need to re-adjust how it functions without it, thus causing adverse affects during the re-adjusting stage. 
This being said, I believe that this is the loop hole that psychiatrists have held a tight grip onto during this age of mass prescription drug use because one thing they seem to love to stand by is "Non-habit forming," i.e., "non-addictive." Interesting that they omit the discontinuation symptoms that will stand in the place of those statements. Many patients become angry with their doctors for not warning them of the withdrawal symptoms associated with their specific medication, but a better and more accurate reason to be at odds with your mental health doctor is for not telling you that though your body will not crave the drug once you discontinue, there will be extreme symptoms of re-adjustment. Again, it's semantics, though I much prefer having all possible outcomes of the aftermath overly explained than not explained at all. 

Ran into the The Edge Effect: Revolutionary Brain-Mind-Body Science, by Bruce Scali and Eric R. Braverman, M.D.  This site has great information on natural ways of boosting our brain, our mind and our body. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Alright, I am officially 5 days out until my next menstrual cycle and many of the symptoms from the weaning are heightened such as, dizziness, headache, numbness/tingling in extremities, hot flashes, hot face, fatigue, hard to wake in mornings, extremely acidic stomach, rise in candida (yeast), frequent body pangs in arms and legs (stab-like pain), mild and periodic brain zaps. I also have had some menstrual cramps though I won't blame those on the weaning from the medication, Lol. I will say that many of these symptoms I've suffered even prior to ever being introduced to Effexor (Venlafaxine) and so they are in a weird way familiar and maybe even comforting in regards to recognition. These symptoms were always much milder than they are now, though I had always accepted that my hormones were always especially happy to pull me up, pull me down and all around during my pre-menstrual stages. Regardless, I rather go through extreme pain understanding why it is that I am suffering from it than go through mild pain without a clue as to what can be causing it. I've realized that when I can categorize the pain then I can also see the end goal, it's as if there is enough resolve in knowing that what I am suffering is just a part of the process and will soon pass. Therefore, ALL that I have suffered since the first day I ever took a dose of Effexor until now, I've somewhat had peace of mind knowing that "This is what is supposed to happen. It sucks, and it's no fun, but I must keep going." 


xoxo